Trio jailed for causing ruckus at Upper Serangoon porridge eatery
A Google Street View of Heng Long Teochew Porridge.
SINGAPORE — Upset about a waitress' attitude when they asked her why their food cost so much, three friends began throwing wooden stools, tables and bowls into Heng Long Teochew Porridge restaurant.
Tan Sung Meng, Ang Sim Poh and Pang Pei Pei, who were regular patrons of the eatery at Upper Serangoon Road, pleaded guilty on Thursday (May 3) to one count each of committing mischief with common intention.
Tan, 47, and Ang, 49, were sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment each. Pang, 41, was jailed for four weeks, after District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt took into account her previous two-week-long remand at the Institute of Mental Health for a psychiatric evaluation.
The court heard that on May 26 last year, between 4 and 5pm, the trio met their friend Yeoh Keng Hock at the Yio Chu Kang Chinese Association to drink beer, chat and play games on their mobile phone.
At about 1am the following day, the group went to a pub in Chinatown to drink cognac. Intoxicated by then, they took a taxi to Heng Long Teochew Porridge, located at 1006 Upper Serangoon Road, to have supper.
They arrived at about 3.30am and ordered their food. When the waitress returned their change of S$22 for the S$50 payment, Pang began to ask her repeatedly why it cost so much, and to list the prices for the individual dishes.
As she continued to question the waitress, Pang got so incensed that she threw her porridge into the eatery.
Tan and Ang then began hurling wooden stools and other objects into the shop, smashing them into the food counter. Pang joined in.
Yeoh, it was understood, did not participate.
Alarmed by the sudden outburst of violence, other patrons and Hong Leng staff retreated and tried to distance themselves from the trio.
This went on for about a minute before they stopped and walked off. The police received a call shortly after, informing them: "Many people fighting. They throw things."
Tan, Ang and Pang were arrested on May 30. Their friend Yeoh was also arrested, but subsequently not charged.
The trio's rampage caused the restaurant damages and losses amounting to S$10,285. The whole incident was captured by CCTV cameras, and footage of it was shown in the court on Thursday.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Zu Zhao sought at least eight weeks' jail for each of the trio. He cited several aggravating factors, including the "very high, substantial" damages and the sustained nature of the incident.
Their defence asked for a fine instead. Pang's lawyer K Ravendra said that she has six children, one of whom is just over a year old, who are all in school. He added that Pang and her husband are going through a divorce, and she has a history of psychiatric treatment.
When Mr Ravendra said there was "goodwill" between the eatery and the trio, as they were regular customers, District Judge Chay retorted: "If there is goodwill and there was a problem with the waitress, (Pang) should have taken it up with the boss (of Hong Leng)."
For committing mischief with common intention, they could each have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined.
